INVESTIGADORES
AGUIRRE Pio Antonio
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Life cycle assessment of corn-based ethanol production in Argentina. A sensitive analysis
Autor/es:
CARLA PIERAGOSTINI; PIO A. AGUIRRE; MIGUEL MUSSATI,
Lugar:
Dublin
Reunión:
Conferencia; 5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP); 2012
Resumen:
Biofuels, mainly biodiesel and bioethanol, constitute a renewable source of primary energy and its
sustainable use is a valuable palliative to the current global energy crisis. The transportation sector is one of
the major consumers of bioethanol in blend with gasoline; however, it can also be used as raw material to
produce hydrogen and synthesis gas by reforming processes. In turn, hydrogen and synthesis gas can be used
for electric power generation. Then, bioethanol production catches scientists and governments? attention due
to both its variety of uses and applications, and its renewable origin. However, environmental and
sustainability aspects should still be addressed and trade-offs elucidated.
In this context, this work aims at analyzing the environmental impact of corn-based bioethanol production in
Argentina resorting to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The Eco-indicator 99 LCIA method
and SimaPro software are chosen to perform the analysis. The study involves from raw material production
to ethanol without distillation. The system is divided into two subsystems: corn cultivation (subsystem 1)
and refinery (subsystem 2). The functional units are 1 kg of maize and 1 kg of ethanol without distillation
respectively. A sensitivity analysis is performed. In doing so, several scenarios are investigated, such as by
assuming different farming practice, considering deforestation, varying the grain yield, altering
transportation, and the energy matrix. The assessed environmental performances are discussed and compared
in light of regional characteristics and circumstances.